Aeroplane



C. J. BOYD May 6, 1930.

AEROPLANE Filed Nov. 5, 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9W1 J w M M Gnome May 6,1930. c. J. BOYD 1,757,109

AEROPLANE Filed Nov. 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 & nuculbr am Ml.

Patented May 6, 1930 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES J. BOYD, OF AMARILLO, TEXASAEROPLANE Application filed November The present invention relates to anaeroplane and has for its prime object to provide wings which may befolded back in perpendicular form by unfastening a fixture of each wingand further in the provision of a strut that carries the weight of thewings when folding as well as assists other struts in flight.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provisionof the combination of the braces and struts so formed that the wings donot have to be removed from the aeroplane when folded back but certainjoints are so placed as to admit of perfect action and movement infolding without the necessity of lifting the wings.

A further very important object of the invention resides in theprovision of an aeroplane structure of this nature which is exceedinglysimple, strong and durable easy to manipulate, thoroughly efficient andreliable in use, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which itis designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in View as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features ofconstruction, and in the combination and arran ement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an aeroplane embodying the features of myinvention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof show ing the wing section at theend of the first folding movement,

Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof showing the wings back,

Figure 6 is a detail view of the front fasten ing devices for the wingsections,

Figure 7 is a 'detail section through the rear hinge connection, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing one of the ball and socketconnections for the struts.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5denotes a fuselage 3, 1928. Serial No. 316,973.

with a wing extending transversely across the forward portion thereof.

This wing includes a central section 6 permanently supported by suitablestruts 7 and a pair of side foldable sections 8. The sections 8 areengaged with the sides of the section 6 by novel hinge connections A andnovel releasable fasteners B. The hinge con nection will be describedfirst and particular attention is directed to Figure 7 This hingeconnection A comprises a plate 9 bolted as at 10 to the rear sideportions of the central section 6 and a trunnion pin 11 projects fromthe plate 9. A sleeve 12 is rotatable on the pin 11 and is formed at itsinner end with an outwardly directed annular flange 14.

A cap plate 15 has a flange portion 16 extending over the flange 14: forholding the sleeve in place and allowing the sleeve to rotate on theplate 11. The cap plate 15 is held in place by the bolts 10. A member 18is provided with a pair of ears 19 straddling the sleeve 12 and hingedlyconnected therewith by means of a removable pin 20 which passestherethrough and through registering openings in the sleeve 12 and isheld against accidental removal by a cotter pin 21 or in any othersuitable manner. This member 18 is provided with a pair of spacedparallel arms 22 for straddling one of the wing spars of section 8.

There are two of these hinge connections one to each side of the rearportion of the section 6 and one connected to each of the rear of theinner side of the sections 8 so that the sections 8 may be swung fromsubstantial horizontal position as shown in Figure 3 downwardly to asubstantial vertical position as shown in Figure 4C.

Struts 24 have ball and socket connections 25 with the fuselage and balland socket connections 26 with the sections 8 so as to permit theswinging movement just described.

Particular attention is now directed to the fasteners B disclosed toadvantage in Figure 6. Each fastener comprises a plate 27 with ears 28projecting in one direction to straddle a wing spar 29 of section 6 anda pair of apertured cars 30 projecting in the opposite direction.

A plate 31 is provided with cars 32 in one direction to straddle a wingspar 33 in section 8 and with an extension 34 in the opposite directionfor disposal between the cars 30 and is provided with an opening so thata pin 35 may pass through the apertures of the ears 30 and through saidopening in the extension 34.

Cotter pins 36 prevent the accidental removal of the pins 35. These pins35, however, are adapted to be removed when the wing is to be foldedwhereas pins 20 are not removed except when the Wing sections 8 are tobe removed entirely from the fuselage. The fastening devices B arelocated between adjacent edges of the sections 6 and 8 and forwardly ofthe hinge connection A and the fastening devices are unfastened so thatthe sections 8 may be swung to the position shown in Figure 4 and thenswung to the position shown in Figure 5.

In swinging from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown inFigure 4 the movement is accomplished by the rocking of the sleeves 12on the pins 11, and the movement of the wing from the position shown inFigure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 is accomplished by theswinging of the members 8 on the pins 20.

Inverted V-shaped struts 40 have hinge connections 41 with the fuselageat their ends and at their apexes have ball and socket connections 42with the forward end portions of the wing sections 8. The struts 24 and40 may be provided with adjusting turnbuckles as is indicated at 43 inFigure 8 so that the lengths of the struts may be adjusted for throwingup the sections 8 if this should be necessary.

The ball and socket connection 42 is unfastened when the wings are to befolded and the struts 40 allowed to swing downwardly to the positionshown in Figure 4 after which they are swung upwardly to the positionshown in Figure 5 so that the aeroplane may be run into a comparativelycompact space.

I do not claim to be the first in the art to produce an aeroplane withfoldable wings but my improvement resides more particularly in theprovision of a foldable structure in the wings wherein it is notnecessary to remove the wings from the fuselage in order to place themin folded compact relation thereto.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed inconsiderable detail merely for the purpose of exemplification since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and inthe combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a wing structure across the fuselageincluding a central section and a pair of end sections, means forrigidly mounting the centralsection on the fuselage, universal hingeconnections between the rear end of the inner sides of the end sectionsand the rear side edges of the central section and detachableconnections between the forward ends of the inner side edges of the endsections and the forward side edges of the center section, struts havinguniversal connections with the fuselage and with the end sections.

2. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a wing structure across the fuselageincluding a central section and a pair of end sections, means forrigidly mounting the central section on the fuselage, universal hingeconnections between the rear end of the inner sides of the end sectionsand the rear side edges of the central section and detachableconnections between the forward ends of the inner side edges of the endsections and the forward side edges of the center section, struts havinguniversal connections with the fuselage and with the end sections, apair of struts for each side of the fuselage, one of said pairs beinginverted V-shaped.

3. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a wing structure across the fuselageincluding a central section and a pair of end sections, means forrigidly mounting the central section on the fuselage, universal hingeconnections between the rear end of the inner sides of the end sectionsand the rear side edges of the central section and detachableconnections between the forward ends of the inner side edges of the endsections and the forward side edges of the center section, a hingeconnection including a plate secured to the center section and having apin projecting therefrom, a sleeve rockable on the pin and having aninner flange directed outwardly, a cap plate on the first mentionedplate to hold the sleeve on the pin by engaging the flange thereof, anda member having a pair of ears straddling the sleeve, a pin projectingthrough openings in the ears and the sleeve to hinge the member on thesleeve, and ears projecting from the member for engagement with winchbars of the end sections.

4. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a Wing structure across the fuselageincluding a central section and a pair of end sections, means forrigidly mounting the central section on the fuselage, universal hingeconnections between the rear end of the inner sides of the end sectionsand the rear side edges of the central section and detachableconnections between the forward ends of the inner side edges of the endsections and the forward side edges of the center section, a hingeconnection including a plate secured to the center section and having apin projecting therefrom, a sleeve rockable on the pin and having aninner flange directed outwardly, a cap plate on the first mentionedplate to hold the sleeve on the pin by engaging the flange thereof, anda member having a pair of ears straddling the sleeve, a pin projectingthrough openings in the ears and the sleeve to hinge the member on thesleeve, and ears projecting from the member for engagement with winchbars of the end sections, each fastener comprising a plate fixed to thecenter section and having spaced ears and a plate fixed to therespective end sections having a projection between the ears and a pinhingedly extending between the ears.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES J. BOYD.

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